▷ The Hero's Journey and the Tarot: How are they related?

We are all the heroes of our own story. This journey that weaves through our lives has powerful echoes in both the ancient tarot cards and the timeless story of the “hero’s journey” described by Joseph Campbell. This cross between the mystical and the narrative serves as a guide to understanding more about ourselves and our personal development.

What is Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey?

Joseph Campbell, a noted scholar of mythology, developed the concept of the “hero’s journey,” a narrative structure that reflects common patterns in thousands of stories from around the world. According to Campbell, this journey consists of several stages that recur in myths, fairy tales, movies and in our lives. The journey begins with the call to adventure, followed by an initial denial, crossing a threshold into an unknown world, facing trials, and finally returning home transformed.

This journey is not only a metaphor for personal and spiritual evolution, but also a mirror of our unconscious. Through the lens of the hero’s journey, we can find a greater understanding of ourselves and humanity in general.

Tarot and the Hero’s Journey: A Deep Connection

On the other hand, we have the Tarot, a deck of 78 cards with mysterious origins that has been used for centuries for divination and meditation. The 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot seem to tell a story similar to that of the hero’s journey, beginning with The Fool (the innocent hero) and ending with The World (the culmination and final achievement).

The parallel between the Tarot and Campbell’s hero’s journey is no coincidence. Both describe an archetypal journey that reflects the human experience in all its stages and facets. As such, these two symbolic systems can provide a powerful tool for introspection and personal guidance.

The 22 major arcana and their correspondence with the Hero’s Journey

We will now explore how each of the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot corresponds to a stage in the hero’s journey.

The Fool – The call to adventure

The Fool represents the beginning of the journey, the spark of adventure that invites the hero to explore beyond his current knowledge. With his backpack full of potential and a carefree spirit, El Loco is ready to face the unknown.

The Magician – The denial of the call

The Magician can be seen as the hero’s initial fear or denial of the call to adventure. Here, the hero is not yet ready to leave his comfort zone and may try to manipulate his environment to avoid change.

The Priestess – Crossing the first threshold

The Priestess is the keeper of secrets and mysteries. She symbolizes the hero’s leap into the unknown, the decision to undertake the journey despite fear and uncertainty.

The Empress – The Mentor Stage

The Empress symbolizes the mentoring stage of the hero’s journey. She represents generosity, nurturing the hero’s mind and spirit with the skills and knowledge needed for his or her journey. As a motherly figure, The Empress can offer loving guidance and the emotional support the hero needs to face the challenges to come.

The Emperor – The stage of allies and enemies

The Emperor is at the stage where the hero begins to discover allies and enemies along the way. As a figure of authority and structure, The Emperor personifies order and stability. He can represent an authority figure who offers guidance and protection, or a formidable enemy that the hero needs to overcome to progress on his journey.

The Pope or The Hierophant – The stage of trials

The Pope or Hierophant symbolizes the stage of testing. This card embodies tradition, structure and morality, the belief systems and rules that the hero must learn to navigate. This stage may involve challenges that test the hero’s integrity and convictions, forcing him to confront and evaluate his own beliefs.

The Lovers – The stage of the first great challenge

The Lovers represent the hero’s first great challenge, often involving a major decision or choice that will affect the course of his journey. This card symbolizes love and harmony, but also duality and choice. At this stage, the hero may face internal conflicts or decisions that require sacrificing one thing for another.

The Chariot – The reward stage

The Chariot symbolizes the stage where the hero obtains a reward after overcoming his first great challenge. It represents triumph, ambition and control, reflecting the hero’s drive and determination to move towards his goal. This achievement can come in many forms, such as recognition of his efforts, a new perspective, or an acquired power or skill.

The Force – The stage on the way back

The Force represents the stage of the return journey, where the hero must face the remaining challenges and overcome his inner fears. This card symbolizes inner strength, courage and compassion, highlighting the need to balance physical and mental strength. At this stage, the hero is forced to confront his fears and weaknesses, channeling his inner strength to overcome obstacles.

The Hermit – The reconstruction stage

The Hermit symbolizes the stage of reconstruction, where the hero seeks inner wisdom and guidance to complete his journey. It represents introspection and the search for truth. During this stage, the hero may need to withdraw from the world to reflect on his experiences and gain a deeper understanding of his journey and himself.

Wheel of Fortune – The rebirth stage

The Wheel of Fortune represents the stage of rebirth. This card symbolizes the inevitable cycles and changes of life, reminding us that the only constant is change. At this stage, the hero may face drastic changes and need to adapt and evolve, marking the beginning of a new phase of his journey.

Justice – The revelation stage

Justice represents the stage of revelation, in which the hero must face the truth and accept the consequences of his past actions. This card symbolizes balance, law and fairness, underlining the need for honesty and justice. Here, the hero may find a new understanding or perspective, gaining clarity about his purpose and journey.

The Hanged Man – The transformation stage

The Hanged Man symbolizes the stage of transformation, a time of stagnation that allows the hero a different perspective and an opportunity for personal growth. It represents sacrifice and surrender, where the hero is willing to surrender to the unknown in order to gain wisdom and understanding. It is a moment of introspection, of looking at the world from a different angle and letting go of the ties that prevent him from moving forward.

Death – The stage of sacrifice

Death does not represent a physical death, but a radical transformation, an end to make way for a new beginning. In the hero’s journey, this stage represents the sacrifice necessary to progress. The hero must let go of aspects of his old self, obsolete concepts and patterns of behavior that no longer serve his purpose. Although this change can be painful, it is essential to the hero’s evolution and growth.

Temperance – The stage of harmonization

Temperance symbolizes the stage of harmonization, where the hero seeks balance and healing after the turmoil of change. It represents moderation, patience and adaptability. At this stage, the hero must learn to balance his opposing forces and find inner peace. This is a time for regeneration and renewal, allowing the hero to prepare for the challenges yet to come.

The Devil – The temptation stage

The Devil represents the stage of temptation in the hero’s journey, a time of trial where illusions and material desires can divert the hero from his true path. This card symbolizes slavery and addiction, the fears and obsessions that chain the hero, preventing him from moving forward. Facing and overcoming these temptations is a crucial step towards liberation and self-realization.

The Tower – The purification stage

The Tower symbolizes the purification stage in the hero’s journey, where old and obsolete structures must be destroyed to make way for new forms. It represents a sudden and dramatic change, a crisis that awakens the hero and propels him to radical change. Although this change can be chaotic and destructive, it is necessary to eliminate what no longer serves and free the hero to reach his true potential.

The Star – The stage of hope and renewal

The Star represents the stage of hope and renewal in the hero’s journey. This card symbolizes inspiration, serenity and renewal, acting as a beacon of light in the darkest moments. After the destruction of The Tower, The Star offers guidance and solace, reminding the hero that even in the darkest of times, hope shines through. At this stage, the hero finds the strength and inspiration to continue on his path, even when it seems difficult.

The Moon – The stage of illusion and deception

The Moon symbolizes the stage of illusion and deception in the hero’s journey. This card reflects the fears and insecurities, illusions and doubts that can confuse the hero and divert him from his path. At this stage, the hero must learn to navigate in the dark, to trust his intuition and confront his deepest fears. This is a crucial step in reaching clarity and truth.

The Sun – The stage of enlightenment

The Sun represents the stage of enlightenment in the hero’s journey, a moment of triumph and joy after overcoming challenges and trials. This card symbolizes success, vitality and fulfillment, radiating warmth and positive energy. At this stage, the hero realizes his true self, his purpose and his power. This is a time of celebration, but also of preparation for the ultimate challenge to come.

The Judgment – The Resurrection Stage

The Judgment represents the resurrection stage in the hero’s journey, the last test before reaching his goal. This card symbolizes judgment, absolution and transformation, marking the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. At this stage, the hero faces his last challenge, a final test that reflects his past experiences and demonstrates how much he has grown and evolved. It is a moment of liberation, where the hero frees himself from his old self and prepares for a new life.

The World – The return stage with the elixir

The World represents the final stage of the hero’s journey, the return with the elixir. This card symbolizes fulfillment, fulfillment and harmony, indicating that the hero has achieved his goal and completed his journey. At this stage, the hero returns to his original world, but transformed, with a new perspective and a greater understanding of himself and the world. This is a time of celebration and gratitude, but also of reflection and learning, as the hero begins to integrate his experiences into his daily life.

The Tarot and the Hero’s Journey in self-exploration and self-development

Tarot can be a powerful tool for self-knowledge and personal development. The cards can reflect our emotions, challenges, strengths and weaknesses, giving us a unique perspective of ourselves.

By relating the Tarot cards to the stages of the hero’s journey, we can gain a deeper understanding of our life, our current challenges and how we can grow and evolve.

The hero’s journey, on the other hand, can act as a model for personal development. It shows us that we all face challenges and obstacles in our lives, but we also have the potential to overcome them and grow as a result. Through the stages of the hero’s journey, we can learn to face our challenges with courage, seek support when we need it, and eventually transform our experiences into wisdom and understanding.

How to incorporate the Hero’s Journey into Tarot readings

When integrating the concept of the hero’s journey into your Tarot readings, it is important to remember that the stages of the journey do not always occur in a linear order. As with the Tarot cards, the stages of the hero’s journey can appear in various sequences and combinations in our lives. Don’t be afraid to interpret the cards and the stages of the journey in creative and personal ways.

Also, remember that the Tarot and the Hero’s Journey are tools for self-knowledge and personal growth, not for divination of the future. The cards reflect current energies and possibilities, not determined facts. The true value of these tools lies in their ability to help us reflect on ourselves and our lives, and to inspire us to grow and evolve.

We are all heroes in our own journey

The Tarot and the hero’s journey can work together as powerful tools for self-knowledge and personal development. Through the lens of the hero’s journey, we can gain a new perspective on the Tarot cards, and through the Tarot cards, we can gain a deeper insight into our lives and ourselves.

Ultimately, both the Tarot and the hero’s journey teach us that we are all heroes on our own journey, facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and growing and evolving through our experiences. As such, these two concepts offer not only valuable guidance, but also an inspiring reminder of our own potential for growth and transformation.

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